Moist chocolate cake layers sandwiching rich Nutella ganache and covered in creamy Nutella buttercream—what’s not to love about this chocolate Nutella cake?
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Are you a Nutella fan? The kind who eats it right out of the jar? Because I am.
And sometimes that leads to embarrassing situations. Case in point: after making these Nutella cupcakes I had a little leftover Nutella so I finished off the jar with a spoon.
Then I took Cookie for a walk. And after the walk it was dinner time so I headed to my powder bath/pantry annex to grab her food and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Nutella was ALL over my chin.
And I was like, seriously Cookie? You couldn’t let me know before I walk out of the house? (She was too focused on her dinner to respond.)
But my love for chocolate and hazelnut is strong enough to withstand even the greatest embarrassment. Hence this chocolate Nutella cake. It’s a dream come true for chocolate lovers!
Moist and tender chocolate cake, rich Nutella ganache, Nutella buttercream, and crunchy hazelnuts make this a cake anyone would risk embarrassment for.
Why you’ll love this chocolate Nutella cake:
- It’s straight-forward to make and uses easy-to-find ingredients that you probably already have on hand
- You don’t need a stand mixer to make it!
- The Nutella ganache filling takes this cake to new levels of deliciousness
Chocolate cake layers
This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe because it’s super soft and very chocolate-y. You’ll notice that the recipe calls for Frangelico, which is a hazelnut liqueur. If you don’t have Frangelico and don’t want to buy it, substitute 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
The recipe also calls for coffee but you can substitute flat cola if you’re not a coffee fan, although you won’t actually taste the coffee.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, and oil
- Add eggs whisk in the eggs and Frangelico (or vanilla)
- Whisk until smooth
- Use a rubber spatula to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients (the mixture will be very thick)
- Gradually stir in the coffee (or cola)
And that’s it! Bake for about half an hour and your cake layers are done. Be sure to cool them completely before filling and frosting them!
How to make Nutella ganache
The chocolate Nutella cake filling we’re using here isn’t technically a ganache, which is just a mixture of chocolate and heavy cream–ganache is the stuff you make truffles with. Regular ganache sets up firmer than this one, but Nutella “ganache” is delicious nonetheless.
- Start by putting your Nutella into a heat-proof bowl—this is a bowl that won’t be damaged by heat
- Pour warm heavy cream over the Nutella and let sit for a few minutes
- Beat with an electric mixer, then add powdered sugar
- Beat until smooth
The ganache will most likely be too thin to spread between the cake layers so refrigerate it until it thickens enough to be spread-able–about 30 minutes should do it.
Nutella buttercream
- Beat your butter until it’s smooth
- Beat in Nutella, Frangelico (or vanilla), and salt to combine
- Then beat in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk until smooth
Baker’s tip: you want your butter to be at room temperature when you make this frosting so it combines easily with the Nutella. Cut your butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and let it sit at room temp for 20 to 30 minutes.
Room temp butter should give a bit when pressed with your finger, but not mush completely.
This Nutella frosting is a standard American buttercream and it’s super easy to make–just butter or shortening, powdered sugar, and flavorings. AND SALT! Most frosting recipes call for salt, which might sound weird since ideally frosting is sweet.
But a small amount of salt added to sweets helps bring out the flavors in frosting (or whatever you’re making) so you can taste the Nutella or vanilla or chocolate or whatever else, rather than just tasting sugar.
Assembling your chocolate Nutella cake
Because the ganache doesn’t get super-thick, you need to pipe a dam of Nutella buttercream around the cake layers before adding the filling (as pictured above). The buttercream holds a thick layer of filling in—without it, the filling would ooze from between the layers.
Use a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and filled with about a cup of frosting. Spread half of the ganache in the center of the circle; I like to use a small offset spatula for this.
Top with the next cake layer and refrigerate 20 minutes to set the buttercream, then repeat the process.
Even if you don’t have piping bags and a large round tip, you can still make the cake. Spread the ganache over the cake without going all the way to the edge, and use only a very thin layer.
There you have it—a chocolate Nutella cake worthy of a celebration (a birthday perhaps?—hint hint for next year, Mom) or just a regular old Monday afternoon.
Even if you walk outside with cake smeared all over your face and your dog doesn’t bother to let you know, this chocolate Nutella cake is totally worth it. Promise.
How to store your Nutella cake
Uneaten cake can be stored at room temperature, covered, for up to 2 days or in the freezer, tightly wrapped, for up to 2 months.
I like to cut the cake into slices, put the slices on a foil-lined baking sheet, and freeze for about an hour to set the frosting and filling. Then the slices are easy to wrap tightly and you can pull them out of the freezer any time you’re in the mood for chocolate cake!
A few more recipes you might enjoy:
Tuxedo cake
Death by Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Caramel Cake
Banana Nutella Cake
Nutella Cupcakes
Did you make this chocolate Nutella cake? That’s great! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. And post a pic on Instagram! Tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see! And like IBK on Facebook and follow on Pinterest for more delicious recipes.
Chocolate Nutella cake is a delicious dessert anyone who loves chocolate and hazelnut will go crazy for!
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons Frangelico OR 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups warm coffee you can substitute flat cola
- 1 cup Nutella
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3/4 cup Nutella
- 1 tablespoon Frangelico OR 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 to 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 5 to 8 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- chopped hazelnuts for garnish if desired
- Preheat the oven to 350. Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper, spray the paper with cooking spray and lightly dust with flour. Set pans aside.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
- Combine the sugar, butter, and oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Mix in the eggs and Frangelico (or vanilla).
- Use a rubber spatula to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then slowly add the coffee (or cola), mixing until just incorporated. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 28 to 32 minutes, until the cakes spring back when touched gently with your finger.
- Let cake layers cool in pans for 20 minutes, then carefully remove from the pans to cool completely on a wire rack before filling and frosting your cake.
- Place the Nutella in a medium heat-proof bowl.
- Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan set over medium heat until it just begins to steam. Pour the hot cream over the Nutella and allow to sit for 3 minutes.
- Beat with an electric mixer set to low speed until combined, then turn mixer to medium and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until fully combined. If your ganache is too thin to spread, refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes, until it thickens enough to spread.
- Beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the Nutella, Frangelico (or vanilla), and salt and beat for 1 minute more. Add 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, the cocoa powder, and 5 tablespoons of milk and mix on low just to combine.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix on medium until frosting is smooth. Adjust to desired consistency by adding milk if too thick or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Transfer about a cup of buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip.
- Trim your cake layers if they’ve domed. Set one layer on a cake stand or cardboard cake circle and pipe a circle of buttercream around the edge of the cake.
- Spread half of the Nutella ganache filling into an even layer inside the circle. Top with a second cake layer and refrigerate for 20 minutes to set the frosting.
- Remove from the fridge and pipe a layer of buttercream around the edge of the second cake layer. Fill with remaining ganache and top with the remaining cake layer. Return the cake to the fridge to set the frosting—you don’t want the cake to jiggle when you’re adding the final layer of frosting.
- Remove cake from the fridge and frost with the remaining Nutella buttercream. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts if desired, then serve.
- You want your butter to be at room temperature when you make this frosting so it combines easily with the Nutella. Cut your butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and let it sit at room temp for 20 to 30 minutes. Room temp butter should give a bit when pressed with your finger, but not mush completely.
- If you don’t have piping bags and a large round tip to pipe a buttercream dam when you assemble your cake, you can still make the cake. Spread the ganache over the cake without going all the way to the edge, and use only a very thin layer.
- Uneaten cake can be stored at room temperature, covered, for up to 2 days or in the freezer, tightly wrapped, for up to 2 months.
Cake layers adapted from The New Best of Betterbaking.com
Marcia Brown says
First time making a cake from scratch. I’m making it for a coworker who wants it for a friends birthday. It was a really thick batter until the coffee addition. The layers seemed thin after baking. Then the ganache and the buttercream made it a great size cake. I didn’t decorate it very much. Just some hazelnuts and buttercream. I’ll let you know what my coworker thinks.
Allison says
I gave this recipe a try and was pleased. The cake was slightly dry, but perhaps I overcooked it. I only used 2 cups of icing sugar for the buttercream and it turned out perfect. I thought with the sweet ganache and the sweet buttercream, I could tone down the sweet a bit. Overall, a delicious cake, especially if you love nutella.
Mariam says
Hi. Do I put black coffee? How many teaspoons of coffee in 1 1/2 cup water?
Thanks
Kelsie says
Hi Mariam! Just use black coffee, exactly like you would drink. I’m not sure exactly how many teaspoons of coffee in the water; just make it the strength you’d make it for drinking and you’ll be fine. Let me know if you have more questions!
Mariam says
Thank you so much!
I just fell in love with this recipe.
Want to make it for my husband’s birthday .. then will let you know how it turned out. 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you, Mariam! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Jess says
I made it but I screwed it up by not cooling the buttercream. The flavor was still great though! The cake crumbles easily. Did I make it wrong? The buttercream was awesome too. Thanks for the recipe!
Kelsie says
Hi Jess! I’m wondering if maybe the cake got a little over-done? That could account for the crumbling. I’m glad you liked the buttercream though!
Gingerheel says
Is it possible to make this with 2 layers instead? I think 3 might be beyond my capabilities…
Kelsie says
It’s possible to make it with two layers, but you’d have to cut down the recipe or you’ll end up with excess filling and frosting. Three layers really isn’t more difficult than two though!
Abby says
I made this yesterday for my mother in laws birthday. It was delicious! It was pretty time consuming because you had to keep letting layers rest etc., but well with it! It also gave me time to do all the dishes! Lol. followed the directions exactly. I am not a baker, so this was probably a little ambitious for me, but turned out great and am really proud! Will definitely make again.
Kelsie says
Thank you, Abby! I’m so glad you loved it!
Dana says
HAHA!! How dare Cookie to not let you know? I bet she was snickering as you were walking and hoping you guys would run into somebody!! lol This made me laugh, thank you Kelsie. Mittan has done the same thing, awhile back I had a blueberry smoothie and forgot to check before leaving as I ALWAYS get purple teeth and the corners of my mouth are usually purple. I walked her to the little dog park near my place and did get a few strange looks. Thankfully I didn’t see too many people or have a conversation with anyone because when I got home it was only when I went to brush my teeth did I see how ridiculous I looked! Crazy little dogs don’t care, I think they enjoy watching us do silly things.
On another note, this cake sounds absolutely amazing. I’m a huge nutella fan too but haven’t bought any in awhile. Now I need to so I can make this cake. I love the sound of the ganache and the buttercream….I was drooling as I scrolled through your shots. Delicious creation, my dear. Hope you’re having a great end of summer! xo
grace says
ah, a chocolate lover’s dream cake! i’d say i could only eat a sliver of this rich decadence, but i’d be lying. 🙂
Ron says
One serious looking chocolate lover’s dessert. I love baking and eating vicariously via your post. I know just what you are talking about when it comes to Cookie. Our Chloe dog isn’t very good at letting me know I’m all tucked-in and ready for a public appearance, but we’re working on it.
GiGi Eats says
I bet every girl want’s to have a date night with this hunk of loving! 😉
Marissa says
It’s dangerous to come to your site, Kelsey! This cake is absolutely gorgeous and now my belly is rumbling…such a genius use of nutella!